Little Falls transcript., 1887-03-11

80OOs---ksJu # I'D Lulnk i LOlQ GNaL--Che
Desperate out there, that there WASH t
anlan about the place! Maud! Maudl
what shall we do!'' o
8 think have a plan, mamma" :"
said Maud, raising her. head from her
brown study. '"Wait q moment"
She flew upstairs and down again.
81 Now come out on the piazza. He
mustn't suspect anything" ..
Il The two ladies reioined their unwel-
come guest, and Mf4 Estabrook rush
ed into feverish conversation with
him. But her talk was of singular
~ warlike kind, turning mainly upon
revolvers, and the proficiency attained
in the use Of these deadly weapons by
Bridget and Maggie, two unsophisticat-
ed hand-imaidens, who. intact, would
not have known a toy pistol from q
gatling gun. Maud, in spite of her ten
sion OF anxiety, grew speechless with
laughter behind her fan as she listened,
turtively watching the strangers face
and noting its just.controlled uneasi-
ness: Finally, like one who takes q
resolution, he began abruptly, Il real.
~ am in very false position"
~, beg your pardon, Mr.. Folliott"
quickly interposed Maud, fearing that,
IN bis rising suspicious, she would lose
her carefully prepared coup. "If you
would like to remove any ofthe linger-
ing dust OF travel, you have just time
before tea.
The young man rose at this hint,
and Maud, volunteering to show the
way, accompanied him up the broad
staircase, and smiling'y indicated the
room where his knapsack had been
LETT: No sooner had he stepped with
in than, quick as flash, the girl shut
the door and locked it on the out
side, where she had already placed
the key. Then she leaned against the
wall, and listened to the movements
OF the entrapped burglar.
For q few moments there was per-
feet stiffness, as if he were trying to
realize the meaning OF that click of the
lock; then she heard him 20 to the
door and turn the handle, first softly,
then louder and louder. Maud clasp
ed her hands tightly together, feeling
almost hysterical between laughter
and nervousness. Then the rattling
stopped, and voice said, slowly:
"Miss Estbrook! Are you still there?'
"4es," answered Maud, holding her
breath.
"You are not aware that you have
locked me in?"
Maud hesitated for an instant.
But since the explanation must come,
1t might as we'll come at once. "Yes"
she answered, clearly; II did it inten-
tionally."
Tn-deed!" The blended accent of
this word made her feel hysterical
again. perhaps you would not
mind telling me Why you did it?"
because you are BURGLAR" ans
wered the girl, concisely.
There was an indistinct mutter
which might or might not have been
an expetive. Then, after a silence,
the voice inquired, quite formally:
"And might l ask what you mean to
do with me?''
keep you shut up here until my
brother or the gardener comes back;
and then"
eyes, and then
"Then," replied Maud, with sud-
den inspiration. "we will let you go If
you 60 peaceably."
There was a sound OF suppressed
laughter at this. Then the voice re-.
joined politely: ''Thanks. will give
you any assurances you require"
Maud went down to the dining
room, where she busted herself in
packing a. basket. After this, return
ing up stairs, she called to her prison
er:
"Mr.-Mr. Folliott!''
s"Yes?"
"If you will open the closet you will
find a rope. Please let it down, and
we will send you up some supper"
The stranger obeyed, and we'll
filled basket was soon lifted through
the window into .e.gis room. Maud
Hospitality hoped he had everything
he wished.
"Thanks; not quite" was tine delib.
crate answer. '1f might ask for a
couple OF Toms cigars?"
"Tom. indeed! The wretch!" COM
mented Toms sister to herself. Then,
aloud: ooh, certainly if you will let
the basket down again
At this point Mrs. Estabrook re-
monstrated. Really, Maud, that is
too muchr'
"Oh, mamma. anything to keep him
quiet and good-tempered," said Mand.
"And you know he was to have taken
tea with u.s."
"But if he shonld burn the house
down smoking them?" anxiously sug-
gested her mother.
"Well, perhaps it's safer to give him
something to use his matches WITH"
answered Maud, with a. mastery
stroke of logic. "And they always
do have Matches" she concluded, in
definitely. Her reasoning carried the
day. so the cigars went up and the
rope came down, for this was point
Oh which Maud was firm. She had no
intention of leaving that rope in their
burglarious visitors possession.
The evening waned, and still there
was no sign of Peters return. The
two ladies did not dream of sleeping,
but kept watch throughout the night
in the room adjoining that Of their
prisoner, bracins themselves with
strong tea for their task. It was
weary work however, and the minutes
crept slowly into the small hours.
The hall clock just struck the quar-
ter before 2 when the silence of the
house was disturbed by little sound
which seemed preternaturally loud to
their strained ears. Mrs. Esta-
brook sat erect to listen; Willie Maud
turned up the glimmering lamp.
Again came the sound slight but dis
tinct, scratch, scratch-fle, file.
"Maud, what is that noise?" said
Mrs. Estabrooke, with the calmness
of despair Maud declined to commit
herself prematurely.
Maud" said her mother again,
''it,s down at the piazza window. It's
its q confederate of that man in